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Lesson 13 of 15

The big picture

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4 min

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Each column past the point is a tenth of the last.

A Peek Beyond the Point, the whole chapter on one screen
IdeaRememberExample
Make a tenthCut one whole into ten equal parts.0.3 is three tenths.
Keep splittingTen hundredths make a tenth. Ten thousandths make a hundredth.1000 thousandths fill one whole.
Read it outWholes on the left, parts of one on the right.4.07 keeps its zero.
Find its spotA decimal with parts lies between two whole numbers.5.3 sits between 5 and 6.
Compare twoWholes, then tenths, then hundredths, then thousandths.6.4 is more than 6.25.
Swap the nameThe column name is the fraction.0.25 is 25/100, or 1/4.
Add or subtractPoints under points. Fill gaps with a zero.2.70 + 1.45 = 4.15.
Change the unitSmall to big, divide by the count. Big to small, multiply.1350 g is 1.35 kg.
Whole plus partA decimal is its whole part plus a fraction. The bottom is 1, then a zero per digit after the point.2.9 is 2 9/10, or 29/10.
BorrowTop digit too small? Borrow from the column on its left. If that column is 0, go one more column left.6.20 − 2.85 = 3.35.
Look-alike dotsA tenth of an hour is 6 minutes. A ball is not a tenth of an over. An inch is not a tenth of a foot.2.4 h is 2 h 24 min.

Open Part I, Chapter 3 of your textbook. It is A Peek Beyond the Point.